It's been a good long while since I've had a
post dedicated to Weezer and of course, my adoring readers demand it, so here
ya go. In this post, I am deep-diving back into Weezer history and
selecting my personal top ten "Post-Pinkerton" Weezer songs.
Before we begin, there's a few things to
untangle.
What is "Post-Pinkerton"?
"Post-Pinkerton" is the long accepted standard of dividing time between "Classic Weezer" (1993-1997)
to "New Weezer" (everything after). Although now the band is well over twenty years old, this standard is starting to feel more arbitrary ("Pre-Scott Shriner" just doesn't do it for me). Still, I find it the most meaningful way of dividing Weezer history.
According to orthodox interpretations of the Gospel of Weezer, it is believed that the first two albums (Weezer (1994) - AKA "The Blue
Album") and Pinkerton (1996) are the two-best Weezer albums and
nothing released since really comes close. At this point, many have left the
fold but almost all that are part of the flock would admit there are at least a
few songs that can come close to the pinnacle of the Classic Weezer era, but
that's as close as you'll get for hard-line orthodox fans.
 |
| Yeah, I guess I kinda have to bring up the SNL "Weezer" skit that revealed to the world the inner-workings that is Weezer fandom. I was waiting for a White Album mention that never came. All in all, it wasn't bad but.... weird...like someone going into your bathroom unexpected and finding your dirty underwear on the floor. |
I would have counted myself quite orthodox for many years but as the years have gone by, a strict adherence to that belief has gotten harder to defend. For a short while, Weezer made really, really good music
(2014-2016). I would also meekly submit that the two Classic albums are so-what time
dependent (Blue, less so). What I mean is that I am not a raging 20-year-old anymore.
Admittedly, I really have to be in a mood for Pinkerton now. It's clear Pinkerton
was ambitious and challenging but it's like looking at photos from college.
Sure, it's me but I don't want to see that photo of me holding two beers and
smoking two cigarettes. I mean, it happened but I've moved on (yes, if you have
that photo, please destroy). I don't want to belittle the albums though and nor do I find them "deal breakers" either. They are still great rock albums and they still hold up today, no apology needed.
So, ahem, "Post-Pinkerton" for our
purposes of this blog post includes every official release since the release of
"Pinkerton" in 1996. I am not including songs only played live (Homie
stuff or SS2K, i.e.), demos or other songs released well after 1996 but written
in the same era (i.e., "Longtime Sunshine", "Tragic Girl",
etc.) of the Classic Weezer era.
I also want to make it clear this is my
personal list. It's completely subjective and if you are Weezer fan, it may
upset you. Honestly, my list ended up surprising me. Some of the reasons why I love particular songs are completely dependent on my personal history. I really won't be "defending" my choices, as I am sure they might seem quite strange to another Weezer fan. Such is life.
The Method Behind the Madness
The easiest way for me to do this was to go back
in my head, album by album, track by track and write down what I thought were the best songs from each album. There are many more songs that I find “good”
and “okay” but these are the songs that stood above the rest.
Most of time I did not need need to google the track list (although I really
needed it for Hurley...which is telling). This initial list is basically
songs that I like.
Notable
Post-Pinkerton Songs (as of 2018)
- Velouria (Pixies Cover)
- The Christmas Song (Christmas CD)
- Don’t Let Go (Green)
- Island In the Sun (Green)
- Hash Pipe (Green)
- Simple Pages (Green)
- O Girlfriend (Green)
- Teenage Victory Song (Green B-side)
- Dope Nose (Maladroit)
- Brunt Jamb (Maladroit)
- Keep Fishin’ (Single Version)
- Slave (Maladroit)
- Perfect Situation (Make Believe)
- This is Such a Pity (Make Believe)
- Pardon Me (Make Believe)
- The Other Way (Make Believe)
- Pork and Beans (Red)
- The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Red)
- Dreamin’ (Red)
- The Angel And The One (Red)
- Ms. Sweeney (Red Deluxe)
- It’s Easy (Red B-side)
- Automatic (LA Riots Remix - GT5P Soundtrack)
- I Don’t Wanna Let You Go (Raditude)
- The Prettiest Girl Girl In the Whole Wide World
(Raditude Itunes Pass track)
- Ruling Me (Hurley)
- Run Away (Hurley)
- Eulogy of a Rock Band (Everything Will Be Alright in
the End)
- I’ve Had It Up To Here (Everything Will Be Alright in
the End)
- Foolish Father (Everything Will Be Alright in the End)
- Everyone Needs Salvation (Fan Club Single 2015)
- California Kids (White)
- Wind in Our Sail (White)
- Girl We Have A Good Thing (White)
- Do You Wanna Get High? (White)
- Drunk Dori & Summer Elaine (White)
- Jacked Up (White)
- LA Girlz (White)
- Friend of a Friend (White Digital Deluxe)
- High As A Kite (Black) (note: this was edited so this song could be added)
Notes on the Notable Songs
Again, I want to stress, this threshold was pretty
easy to meet and it was a lot more extensive than I thought it would be. That said, it was largely
predictable, I love the White Album and I have an affinity for the Green and Red
eras, while disdaining the Rad and Hurley eras.
For those scoring at home here's what the album
breakdown is:
Green - 5
Maladroit - 4
Make Believe - 4
Red Album - 4
Raditude - 1
Hurley - 2
EWBAITE - 3
White - 7
Pacific Daydream - 0
Black - 1
Other (B-sides, deluxe tracks, etc.) - 9
If you included the songs from the album's
respective "era", it would add one to Green, three to Red Album, one
to Raditude, and one to White. So, does this mean White is the third best
album? Yes, and I would go so far to pair it with Blue and Pinkerton as a "Classic"
album. Obviously, it will never have a cultural following or impact, but as a
quality piece of art - I consider it one of the band's best works. In fact,
since the album’s release I have easily listened to White more than Blue and Pinkerton. God forgive me.
Anyway, this isn’t an album post (coming soon in
the next decade or so).
The next step was to make some cuts - but
I didn't want to think too hard, so I told myself this would the second of three cuts.
Here’s what made it to the second round:
Some of my Favorite Post-Pinkerton Songs
1.
Island In the Sun
2.
Simple Pages
3.
Perfect Situation
4.
This is Such a Pity
5.
The Other Way
6.
Dreamin’
7.
The Angel And The One
8.
Ms. Sweeney (Red Deluxe)
9.
I Don’t Wanna Let You Go
10. Ruling Me
11. I’ve Had It Up To Here
12. Foolish Father
13. California Kids
14. Wind in Our Sail
15. Girl We Have A Good Thing
16. Drunk Dori & Summer Elaine
17. Jacked Up
18. LA Girlz
19. Friend of a Friend (White Digital Deluxe)
This was a little harder, but I focused on
keeping songs that gave me the most pleasure or songs I connected with in some
way. Surprisingly the hardest cut maybe was "It's Easy" (lately been
spinning this Brian Bell-penned song). So, after a first round of cuts the
albums break down like so:
Green - 2
Maladroit - 0
Make Believe - 3
Red - 2
Rad - 1
Hurley - 1
EWBAITE - 2
White - 5
PD - 0
Black - 0
Other - 2
Now, comes the hard part, I am going to cut nine
songs. Gulp. Here goes nothing.
My Top Ten Post-Pinkerton Songs (in
chronological order)
- Island in the Sun
- Simple Pages
- Perfect Situation
- The Other Way
- The Angel and The One
- Foolish Father
- Wind in Our Sail
- Drunk Dori & Summer Elaine
- Jacked Up
- Friend of a Friend
Notes on the Top Ten
I have to say, I feel a bit dirty. How did" Island in the Sun" and "Perfect Situation" get on this list? What kind of hardcore fan am I anyway??? Here's a bit on some of the songs.
"Island in the Sun"
Almost 20 years later and its hard to believe this song was just a minor hit, but it was. Yet, today most people know and love the song. There really is no deep personal connection with this song other than it's just a really really good pop song. That said, I was there the first time the band played this live and knew it was a hit. It was also the only Weezer song played at my wedding reception, being that it was the best Weezer song I could fit into such a setting (only played during the meal portion for those scoring at home).
"Simple Pages"
I've always loved this song and I have always found it incredibly underrated by hardcore fans. Sure, it's a bit goofy but it's super catchy and manages to bring Green's energy up a bit. It's fun. I also probably have a sweet spot for this
song because it was on when I almost died. So, there's that.
"Perfect Situation"
The first 47-odd seconds are pure Weezer perfection. It's basically why this song is on the list. I love that intro and I admit that's probably stupid logic, but it's my list. I like it. It features the worst lyrics on this list as well. Some a little cringe worthy.
"The Other Way"/"The Angel and The One"/"Friend of a Friend"
All themes of unrequited love, all the while knowing you're not supposed to feel that way. It's a theme that's powerful and intriguing. I have a lot more to say about TAATO but that's for another blog post someday....
"Foolish Father"
Some might think the song is cheesy...but I love it. It comes from the right place of empathy for our fathers and the empathy we will all need later. The last chords reveal the complexity of the album's title as well (again, this song is underrated and I need to write a whole post about it).
"Wind In our Sails"/"Drunk Dori & Summer Elaine"/"Jacked Up"
All tracks from the White album that I love dearly for different reasons. I won't start because I won't be able to quit. That said, your
MUST listen to the Song Exploder of DDSE.
Well, well, well....Weezer just dropped the Teal Album (an album of cover songs) and no, none of those songs would get on any of these lists. Ultimately, I find it to be a lazy and uninspired album...I mean I know it was for promotion and it's fun but it's something that could have been something so much more than a novelty/flavor-of-the-week experience.
